Breakthrough initiative aims at empowering Americans to make better food choices

Empowering Americans to make better food choices is the goal of a breakthrough initiative between the American Heart Association, the nation's largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke, and Aramark, the largest U.S.-based food service provider. Together, they will work to improve Americans' diets and health by 20 percent by 2020.

Healthy for Life® 20 by 20, a five year initiative, introduces industry leading menu commitments by reducing calories, saturated fat and sodium levels 20 percent, and increasing fruits, vegetables and whole grains 20 percent. Changes will impact more than 2 billion meals that Aramark serves annually at thousands of schools and universities, businesses, hospitals, sports and entertainment venues, parks and other destinations, with an expected impact of 10 billion meals by 2020.

Seventy-two percent of American adults have a poor diet and nearly 70 percent of American adults are overweight or obese, according to the American Heart Association. The relationship builds on existing work by both organizations and underscores the American Heart Association's focus on its healthy living and prevention goals for 2020.

"We are making progress in public health as a nation, but we still have a long way to go," said American Heart Association CEO, Nancy Brown. "Experts have estimated that if the American public increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables to meet current public health recommendations, 127,000 lives could be saved each year. It's essential that we make healthier options more easily available to consumers and empower them to choose these options for themselves and their families. We believe that our work with Aramark will help to build a culture of health at the individual, community and national levels."

"Our mission at Aramark is to 'Enrich and Nourish Lives' and we can use our scale and culinary expertise to help people lead healthier lives," said Eric J. Foss, Aramark Chairman, President and CEO. "Healthy for Life 20 by 20 is a unique opportunity to pursue a shared vision with the American Heart Association and work in a meaningful way with our clients and through the communities we serve to improve the wellbeing of Americans."